Overcoming Harsh Winter Roads
Thursday, November 24, 2005, posted by Jay Stevens at 5:45 PM


Recent survey conducted by Marketplace Insights for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company revealed that while most Americans are prepared for the coming harsh winter travel season, nearly two-thirds admit they fear winter roads.

This survey is part of Goodyear’s “Goodyear TripleTred Traction Study,” which aims to find out how people approach changing weather conditions and the challenges that arise. Based on the study more than half of the respondents say that their overall trip experience is negatively affected by the bad weather conditions.

Auto experts express the need of having good quality tires—those with ample tread—in order to drive safely and confidently through harsh winter roads. At this time of the year, roads are extra slippery, which increases the risk of meeting accidents.

Drivers driving 4WDs or all-wheel drive Sport Utility Vehicles and crossover vehicles were found more confident driving through winter roads; however, one must take note that a 4WD or an all-wheel drive feature is not enough to secure you in a critical driving situation. Based on the survey, 77% think that good tire traction and tire grip is more important than anything else.

Whether good tire traction is the most important or not, it is important and necessary to consider all areas of safe driving. You should check your anti-freeze and the entire cooling system. Make sure parts such as your Ford radiator, Ford radiator fan and the head gaskets are all in excellent condition to ensure maximum engine performance.

Likewise, make sure your Ford alternator is in perfect working condition as well and your battery fully charged to avoid being stranded in the middle of nowhere, especially in a cold winter night.

Make sure your auto lights are functional and that they are properly aimed to avoid road accidents. Have enough Ford lights in your Ford car or truck; install only high quality Ford fog lights, Ford headlights and Ford taillights.

Should you need replacement for your Ford parts, replace them as early as now. Don’t wait for winter to come before you act on any existing car problems your vehicle is experiencing at the moment. Go to Ford Parts Online for your Ford part needs. They have the best choices of quality auto parts for Ford.
 
0 comments



Driving and Responsibility
Tuesday, November 15, 2005, posted by Jay Stevens at 9:32 PM


Is driving a right or is it a privilege?

I just finished reading an article from Autoblog, “Horsepower and responsibility” and am obliged to ask this question after seeing vitriol spew out from many of those who posted their comments in the Autoblog article. From what I gather, the point there was taking personal responsibility when driving (as well as when choosing cars). The subject of the Autoblog post was an article written by The Edmonton Journal’s Paula Simons* which covered the author’s views on the unfortunate death of a woman after a man driving a Corvette (accidentally) ploughed through her one August evening in 2004. What caught many of the Autoblog’s commentators’ ire was that Paula, according to them, seems to be suggesting that the government take more actions to infringe on their rights to choose what vehicle they wanted to drive and that she was advocating that muscle cars be banned. The following paragraphs from Paula’s article may be one of the provocations:

“No one "needs" to drive a car like this (talking about a corvette here) -- anymore than anyone "needs" to drive a Hummer or an Escalade. They're all fashion choices, a chance to parade your wealth and power. But when someone opts to drive an especially powerful vehicle, they ought to assume a higher duty of care. Make the most innocent mistake behind the wheel of a super car and you can do a lot of damage in a frighteningly short time.

Sadly, there often seems to be a correlation between drivers who buy such pit-bull cars and those who drive dangerously. In just the last two months, I've witnessed two different Hummers being driven extremely aggressively through busy city-centre traffic…If I were Queen of the World, I'd give serious consideration to banning such cartoon vehicles from city streets. That, of course, is just fantasy. But would it be too much to dream of the day when we might institute a special class of licence for especially big or powerful vehicles -- to require drivers with cars of unusual size or horsepower to take extra driver training and to pass a more rigorous test?”

Ah. So you can just imagine what the thought of having Mr. Bush choose what car you can spend your money on evoked on people. Imagine the president saying, “Okay Will, after much consideration of your driving skills, your lifestyle and your personality, I have come to the conclusion that (gestures to a Toyota Sienna minivan) this is the vehicle that’s right for you”. Anyone who’s been dreaming of a Ford Shelby or a Cadillac will surely have violent reactions indeed.

Personally, I see nothing wrong with imposing tougher driving tests on everyone – regardless of whatever vehicle you drive. I see nothing wrong with having advanced driving courses for cars that need them. But at this point I am thinking that whatever vehicle you drive – be it a Toyota Corolla, a Ford Expedition, or a Corvette - you can easily kill or maim somebody else if you decide to be irresponsible, even for just a second. I took a ride with a former neighbor once in her Ford Focus and was mortified when she began putting her make up on while driving in the highway. Her rearview mirror was also cracked so she had to look at herself in her compact powder. After asking her if she wanted to kill us both I recommended that she replace her broken rearview mirror maybe with a new one from Ford Parts Online. A lot of people are under the belief that an accident will never happen to them – until it does. This, coupled with loose laws, non-use of common sense, and people who think they can always get away with everything are what make our roads dangerous.
 
0 comments